Thursday, 23 November 2017

Its been another busy evening in the workshop tonight, with Ashington No.5's smokebox getting cemented around the base of the blastpipe, as well as the brick arch getting put in as well as a few other smaller jobs, see photos and captions below

Fire bricks placed in the smokebox to minimise the amount of cement being used

Michael applying some denso tape around the nuts that hold the blastpipe base down, this is partly to protect them and to make the job easier for the next group of people who take the blast pipe out

Mixing cement

John in the smokebox placing and smoothing out the cement

Rob getting the next batch of cement ready to mix

Cementing the smokebox complete

Next onto the brick arch, here Michael is already in and smoothing out cement that has been placed on the brick arch former

Once in, it will take 4 to 5 days for the cement to set, which is when the former can be removed

The manifold now in place, the steam heat valve was removed temporarily to have the spindle straightened

Photo showing the steam space in the dome, steam collector for the regulator and new shiny (ish) tubes in place

The last job for tonight was removing the very heavy dome plate in order to replace the gasket, here Michael is cleaning up the face before applying graphite paste and fitting a new gasket

Wednesday, 22 November 2017

The wall adjacent to the pit has now been extended, the wall to the left (the bit that is painted white) was put up a couple of years ago, this replaces steel fencing and looks a bit more aesthetically pleasing

Friday, 17 November 2017

Work is now 90% finished on both the firebox tubeplate and smokebox tubeplate with both ends of each tube has been expanded using a pneumatic tool and expander. The firebox end also has the ends beaded over for extra protection, work is now progressing to get the engine ready for initial hydraulic tests

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About NTSR

The Association that operates the railway was formed in 1977 as The Monkwearmouth Station Museum Association for the purpose of assisting the then named Tyne & Wear Joint Museums Service to restore railway related items at the former Goods Shed at Monkwearmouth, Sunderland. The first items to receive members attention were Consett Iron Company's diesel locomotive No.10 and steam locomotive A.No.5.
We have a purpose built train shed consisting of a locomotive stabling space, a locomotive workshop and a carriage and wagon workshop.
The actual railway runs from Middle Engine Lane (shed & museum) two miles towards Percy Main terminus, going past Silverlink retail centre and roughly following the old British Rail lines. Trains run every Sunday and bank holiday from April to October, including Santa Specials in December, every year. Many different events are held including a Day Out With Thomas event during the peak of summer time.
Additional exhibits have been acquired by Tyne Wear Museums & Archives (who now operate the site); North Tyneside Council, and ourselves. As well as carrying out restoration and maintenance work on these, our volunteers operate the railway.